C Aleksander Barkov - Tampere Tappara, FEL (2013 Draft) - Part II

Frankly I don't understand the comparisons to datsyuk. Barkov doesn't have the same arsenal of puck tricks. He is a very good puck handler but thus far he uses his puck skills solely for puck possession purposes (shielding the puck, moving in traffic), not to dangle around and between 3 players.

You're right that he isn't as dynamic as Datsyuk. Barkov has ability to dangle if he wants but he seems to prefer safer game. I remember Ivan Hlinka game against USA when he dangled 3 usa players like nothing and setted an open netter for his teammate. I have seen that he has practiced dangling in center circle in small space when he was junior. It took forever for 3 guys to get puck off him. He definetly has that ability to stickhandle smoothly in tight areas.

Why he is compared to Datsyuk? Because his ability to stay calm and cool when he has the puck. He seem never be in hurry and never rushes. He has that patience with the puck. He has smooth hands but is different kind of player because of his size. How he uses his stick without the puck. He's breaks up the passes very effectively and is very very good at takeaways IMO clearly the best in FEL and was it as 16 year old at last year. There is alot of similarities with Datsyuk. That is the reason why i would say that he's the mixture of Thornton and Datsyuk.

Started watching with around 10-11 mins left in the 1st, will try to give a report on Barkov's play, editing this post through the game.

1st period (starting around half way through):
- Looked good on the first shift I saw, picked off a pass at his own blueline, then lead a rush that resulted in a scoring chance
- Nice 2nd shift too. Twice he recovered the puck in his own zone, and both times he successfully started the breakout with good passes. In the offensive zone he had a scoring chance getting to the puck first and getting a quick shot on net. His line seems to be playing at a quicker pace today, which is nice, possibly the Hansen influence
- Kurtis Foster takes a dumb penalty for Tappara. Barkov with a short PK shift, but makes a nice play, stripping the opposition in the neutral zone. Kalpa score off a rocket slapper top shelf later in the PK, after Barkov left the ice. 1-0 Kalpa
- Barkov takes a big hit, but is fine

2nd period:
- Had a few emails/phonecalls to make, missed the first half of the 2nd period, so this report starts again roughly half way through. Seems like Barkov's line scored, Nieminen from Hansen, but Barkov didn't get a point
- Another solid shift from Barkov, recovering pucks, making nice passes and setting up scoring chances. At the end of his shift there was a crazy hit, Tappara player lights up a Kalpa player, seding him into another Tappara player, who gets hurt on the play
- Barkov with a nice pass to Hansen, who almost scored. Sort of Joe Thornton like, in that he passed in a situation where pretty much anyone else would have shot, but I think it was the right play. Worth noting that he has been part of a decent scoring chance in almost every shift I've watched of his today
- Aalto scores for Tappara! Nice slapper top corner, 2-1 Tappara
- Headshot by a Tappara player, killed most of the penalty to end the period
- From what I saw of each period (only the 2nd halves of both), Barkov had a good 1st period, decent 2nd period

3rd period:
- Again I miss the start of the period
- Lehkonen with a slash, Tappara to the PP, where they quickly score. Nice pass from the point to a guy at the side of the net, Foster I believe. Barkov was screening the goalie and drawing attention, but didn't get a point. Tappara running away with the game, 4-1 now
- Barkov getting lots of time on the PK on the most recent penalty
- Tappara with another penalty, Barkov with two quick shifts during the PK. He's getting off the ice pretty quickly after coming on, real short shifts, is probably a bit gassed

Started watching with around 10-11 mins left in the 1st, will try to give a report on Barkov's play, editing this post through the game.

1st period (starting around half way through):
- Looked good on the first shift I saw, picked off a pass at his own blueline, then lead a rush that resulted in a scoring chance
- Nice 2nd shift too. Twice he recovered the puck in his own zone, and both times he successfully started the breakout with good passes. In the offensive zone he had a scoring chance getting to the puck first and getting a quick shot on net. His line seems to be playing at a quicker pace today, which is nice, possibly the Hansen influence
- Kurtis Foster takes a dumb penalty for Tappara. Barkov with a short PK shift, but makes a nice play, stripping the opposition in the neutral zone. Kalpa score off a rocket slapper top shelf later in the PK, after Barkov left the ice. 1-0 Kalpa
- Barkov takes a big hit, but is fine

Barkov has looked very solid so far, nice to see him playing in a faster paced game, it suits him. He actually has good speed for a big guy when the pace of the game picks up, but it's not so noticeable in slow paced games.

Third goal for Barkov's line, Foster gets his first SM-liiga goal. Barkov still 0+0, though.

The points just avoided him. His line has scored three of the goals.

***

What comes to those comparisons, Ville Nieminen just told in an pre-game interview, that Barkov reminds him of what Joe Thornton does. And I see it exactly same way.

Big-sized, good skating and defensive center with phenomenal playmaking ability and puck protection. Great hand-eye coordination to finish when it needs to finish, but mentally, he is a playmaker. Like his father was, defensive-minded typical Sovjet Union playmaker (like Larionov). Not explosive skater/shooter like Fedorov, but... Joe Thornton.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyLager

Is Hansen playing tonight? If so, anyone know what number? I imagine he'll be a bit rusty still...